Frankenstein: The Monster's Human Nature

The Monster's Human Nature Summary EssayHollywood has played a big part is our lives. Growing up we've seen numerous movies, some that scared us others that touch us, and those images stayed with us forever. So what happens when Hollywood takes a classic piece of literature such as Frankenstein and turns into a monster movie. It transforms the story so much that now some 50 years later, people think of Frankenstein as the monster instead of the monster's creator. It became a classic monster movie and all the high values of the original were forever lost. Hollywood has managed to reeducate the world of the timeless and classic literature by altering the story to the point beyond recognition. Starting back with 1931 Frankenstein, where producers took a simple strategy and altered the theme of the story in a way they thought audiences would enjoy more. An ambitious man of science that tries to play a god by creating a man of his own vision. The sequel followed in 1935 named The Bride of Frankenstein, which took off even farther form the original novel by introducing audiences to the author Mary Shelly, and her husband Percy.

In the original text Victor Frankenstein, whose name in the movie was changed to Henry, was never guilty of abusing technology to become god. He tired to revive life, in which he party succeeded. From the speech in his deathbed, Victor tells Walton that his intentions were only to help life, and he hoped that others would succeed where he has failed. Hollywood has disregarded this crucial part of the story and turned Victor into a mad scientist. Other versions of the film followed, one even explained monster being evil because Victor puts a crazy brain into him. Some critics argue that American audience just can't comprehend intellectual complicity and they would just rather see a classic horror movie, then put some thought into one. Besides altering Victor, Hollywood altered the monster as well, making him seem even more...

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...Within Frankenstein, Shelley uses nature as a corrective agent for Victor Frankenstein, one of the main characters. While he is in bereavement by the murders of his friends and family members, he frequently seeks nature for relaxation and help to guide him to victory.
To start with Shelley uses natural metaphors to describe Victor’s childhood. “I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources”. The use of Mountain River to describe feelings that victor holds is the beginning of a theme that is continued throughout the book. This introduction to nature and human feeling’s, shows how Shelley would rather use metaphors of a natural setting rather than other descriptions. Instead of relating Victor’s feelings to other characters, Shelley chooses the more ‘romantic’ image of a ‘Mountain River’.
As the book progresses, nature become Victors personal therapy when he undergoes torment or stress and Shelley creates a connection between Victor and nature. Shelley describes Victor’s recovery from his grave illness through his connection with nature. Although he is nursed by his closest friend, it is the breathing of the air that finally gives him strength. “...My health and spirits had long been restores, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed...” Here Victor is so taken in with this he...

...Confined in cities, people are losing touch with nature and its wisdom. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is a young man living in 19th century Europe. His obsession with the science of animation from death leads him to create an unnatural disaster of a creature, which is miserable and makes Victor miserable as well. In “Tintern Abbey”, by William Wordsworth, a 19th century man reflects over his awe-inspiring experiences with nature, and how people are losing touch with it. “Apostrophe to the Ocean” written in the 19th century by Lord Byron reflects on the wonders and power of the ocean, and on the destructive consequences for man if he goes against nature. Shelley, Wordsworth, and Byron portray nature as having tremendous impacts on man; it causes his depression when he is away from it, it destroys him when he goes against it, and it is powerful and a source of wisdom.
Shelley, Wordsworth, and Byron show how separation from nature causes depression. After Victor Frankenstein has spent two years in seclusion making his creature, he steps back and realizes how terrible his creation is, and what a negative effect these two years have had on him. “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health…breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.”...

...Nature and Victor Frankenstein.
“Frankenstein” is one of the first science fiction novels of supernatural terror, ant this book proved itself both Romantic and Gothic representation in nineteenth century British Literature. The mad scientist Victor Frankenstein and his creation provoke readers with the fear of the unknown and the power of nature’s forces. A deeper look into the character of Victor Frankenstein, the role of the intricate settings of nature in which the story evolves shows us a strong influence of nature on the character and behavior of Victor.
Nature plays an important role in Frankenstein, although to the reader familiar with romantic poetry, it may seem that nature is somewhat less important or less central than the role it plays, but from the novel’s opening, the importance of the reader getting a sense of physical place is established by situating the text within a particular environment, the qualities of which will both mirror and contradict the inner states of the main characters. Even from the very beginning of the novel, theme of nature is incorporated into Shelley’s work. “The icy wilderness in which the novel begins and ends is the barren land of isolation from human warmth and companionship, into which Walton foolishly sails and into which Frankenstein is...

...﻿The concept ‘nature vs. nurture’ refers to the debate surrounding the influence of genetic factors and the environment in determining personality. It still remains contentious as to whether our personality is primarily determined by inherent genetics (biological approach) or by environmental conditioning (behaviourist approach). Shelley effectively embodies this life-long debate through the characterisation of Victor Frankenstein and the Frankenstein creature. She highlights the significance of the environment in creating personality as indicated by the influence of Victor’s home education and the creature’s character development. This essay shall hence illustrate that Frankenstein does not only engage with the nature vs. nurture debate, but significantly supports the behaviourist stance.
The prominence of the behaviourist approach in Frankenstein is made obvious in the first chapter. Victor Frankenstein nostalgically describes his warm and supportive father who ‘had devoted himself to the education of his children’1 from early on in Victor’s life. Victor enhances the significance of behaviourism as he states that ‘no creature could have more tender parents than mine’2 which highlights the loving and compassionate environment that Victor was brought up in. This explicitly presents elements of the behaviourist approach which attributes Victor’s education to his familial...

...Nature vs. Nurture in Frankenstein
In the novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the relationship of external appearance and internal feelings are directly related. The creature is created and he is innocent, though he is severely deformed. His nature is to be good and kind, but society only views his external appearance which is deformed. Humannature is to judge by external appearance. He is automatically detested and labeled as a monster because of his external appearance. He finally realized that no matter how well he speaks and how kind he is, people will never be able to see past his external deformities. Children are fearful of him, Adults think he is dangerous, and his own creator abandons him in disgust. The creature is treated as a monster, therefore he begins to internalize societies view of him and act the like a monster.
Man by nature judges people and things by their appearance. If a person is pleasant looking then they will be given more of a chance to express their internal self. If they are ugly or deformed, they usually aren't given much of a chance to show who they really are. Grotesquely ugly people are thought of as monsters, and are detested. Mankind seems to be fearful of the unfamiliar and unknown. People are afraid of what they do not understand. Deformity is something that most people cannot comprehend. Shelley writes through Victor, “His...

...Nature versus Nurture in FrankensteinNature versus nurture; this is a common debate physiologists are in constant question over. In regards to the development of an individual’s personality, some believe that one is born with an innate personality. In the meantime, others believe that one’s personality is developed through experience over their lifetime. Both nature and nurture are major contributors to the development of characters in the story, Frankenstein. In Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, there is evidence that Shelley views Nature of being the more powerful component to the development of a personality.
In the novel, Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, has a natural desire to learn everything he can about natural philosophy. When speaking of his childhood, Victor exclaims, “but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn…my enquiries were directed to the metaphysical or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world,” (Shelley 19). Victor Frankenstein admits that his desire to learn is in his own nature, and does take interest in more common childhood preoccupants. Even when his own father disapproves by saying, “‘Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash!’“...

...Discuss Mary Shelley’s approaches and methods in relation to the theme of questionable motives in ‘Frankenstein’ (part of letter 1).
In ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley, the theme of questionable motives is a reoccurring one, of which many become apparent at the very beginning of the novel in the letters sent from Walton to his sister, Margaret. During letter one, arguably the most important character in the novel, Robert Walton, is introduced where he notifies Margaret of his preparations leading up to his departure to his dangerous voyage and his burning desire to achieve ‘some great purpose’.
In his first letter Walton talks about his ‘expedition’ and how it has been his ‘favourite dream of my early years’, emphasizing the fact that it has been a lifelong desire for him and finally he is getting the chance to pursue it. It is questionable whether this dream is realistic or if it was solely a young boy’s ambition. Furthermore, Walton also mentions that he feels his heart ‘glow with an enthusiasm’ which happens to ‘elevate’ him ‘to heaven’, which could demonstrate the extent of his passion or highlight his hyperbolic self obsessed character. The language he uses suggests it is like an addiction to him now and that he believes this voyage is his sole purpose for life. By using the word ‘heaven’, also suggests a small link to religion, which at this stage in the novel we are unsure of Walton’s views.
In addition, Walton describes...

...has been enormous controversy over whether inherited genes or environmental influences might affect one’s personality, development, behavior, intelligence and ability. While it is clear that physical characteristics are hereditary by nature, nurture is mostly in control when it comes to an individual's manners and character. Nature and Nurture are both major contributors to the development of the monster’s behavior in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Since the beginning of life, nature and nurture have influenced all living things to learn, live, and survive. Nature represents the biological qualities that organisms inherit at birth, while nurture represents the qualities that organisms acquire from society. In the novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley portrays the theme of nature versus nurture through characterization, setting, and irony in order to show that the creature created by Frankenstein would not have been a monster if society had not influenced him to be that way.
The theme of nature versus nurture is portrayed through characterization of both Frankenstein and his creature. It is a certainty that no one is able to have a kind and amiable stance on life when even its own creator or parent rejects it. Throughout Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein rejects his creature that he had previously...